First to produce an energy-efficient asphalt shingle available in rich colors, called the Cool Color Series (now called Timberline Cool Series)

Winner of the Builders Choice Award

Premium Designer Shingles have twice received the Architects Choice For Excellence Award

Freedom TPO self-adhering roofing systems chosen Product Of The Year by Commercial Building Products magazine

Fireshield brand roof restoration system named "Best Product" by the editors of Buildings magazine

Re-roofing

So You Need to Reroof Your Home?

Maybe youre not quite sure where to start? Or maybe you have re-roofed your home before.

Your decision to reroof your home may have been the result of seeing a neighbor reroof his or her home. Or maybe youve been experiencing some roofing problems which can no longer be ignored.

Then again, maybe youve decided just to give your home a face lift and a new roof would really enhance the look.

Whatever the reason, you dont want to make any costly mistakes! The Northstar Roofing, Fencing, & Gutters team is here to help.

Roof Repair

Have you experienced damage to your roof from a storm or normal wear and tear? We offer emergency roof repair services to our customers including tarping services and insurance assistance.

Many homeowners suffer through leaks in their roof on rainy days by putting out pots and pans to gather the water. Weve found the reason for this is because they believe they need a new roof and they just dont have the money.

A new roof is not always what a leaking roof might need. It may just be a simple repair and we are the Plano roof repair company that you need for the job

Ignoring a leaky roof is a lot like delaying repairs on your car or avoiding the dentist, it can lead to more problems later on and can be more expensive to fix. Fix your small problem before it becomes a big problem.

Call us today, at (214) 274-5596 !

Roof Maintenance & Inspections

We recommend annual inspections (as a minimum) for every roof system. Far too often, the cause of a roof failure is the absence of proper maintenance and inspection.

Something that starts out small and very repairable when left unchecked, can turn into a very major roof problem.

Periodic visual roof inspections (especially after storms) and routine maintenance to deficient conditions can increase the long term service life of any roof assembly.

To perform an annual inspection, our qualified roof inspectors walk over the entire roof area looking for and photographing all observed deficiencies.

These observations are then noted on an inspection form along with recommended maintenance procedures to the cited deficiencies.

The word "lifetime" means as long as the original individual owner of a singlefamily detached residence (or the second owner in certain circumstances)owns the property where the shingles are installed. For owners/structures(e.g., a church) not meeting above criteria, warranty term is 40 years.

See limited warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.

Installer certification is only for installations covered by GAF system warranties

Maximum wind coverage requires special installation.

See warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.

Learn the Signs That Your Roof Needs Repair

Dont get caught with sudden, costly repairs. Keep a close eye on your roof and learn how to spot problems before they severely impact your wallet with these 7 danger signs.

1. A leak in the attic.

After a strong storm or wind-driven rain, take a look in the attic for signs of leaking.

Ice damming can also cause water to enter the house if you dont have an adequate shingle underlayment or if the flashing (the aluminum or steel used over roof joints, like chimneys and pipes) has deteriorated.

2. Blistering or peeling interior or exterior paint.

When paint starts to peel off, the cause is likely trapped moisture in the house due to excessive temperature or high humidity from poor attic ventilation.

The air in the attic needs to flow freely from the soffit to the ridge to reduce humidity.

Make sure there is a vent in areas such as the kitchen or bathroom.

Dryers should vent outside.

3. Stains on interior ceilings and walls; mold or mildew growth.

If you see stains or, even worse, mold growth inside your home, it may be caused by inadequate or faulty shingle underlayment that is allowing water to seep into the house.

Inadequate ventilation could also be the culprit, which causes excessive moisture conditions in which mold and mildew thrive.

4. Exterior decay, sheathing, and/or siding.

Poor attic ventilation is again a possible cause, but any condition that results in excess moisture can contribute to decay.

One way to combat the problem is to put a vapor barrier between the insulation and the inside of the house, which can reduce the amount of moisture that goes into a wall and help the moisture escape from the wall.

5. Missing, cracked, or curled shingles.

If you see that your shingles are dry or practically break when touched, that means they have reached the end of their useful life and its time to invest in a new roof.

6. Dark, dirty-looking areas on your roof.

This could mean your roof has vegetation, fungus, mold, or algae growth, or that the shingles protective granules have been lost.

This doesnt mean you need to replace your roof, but these stains can reduce curb appeal.

Cleaning the shingles is an option, but that could shorten their life. Fortunately, StainGuard protection is available on many GAF Shingles, including Timberline Cool Series Shingles, Timberline Natural Shadow Shingles, and Timberline ArmorShield II Shingles.

(StainGuard protection is available only on shingles with StainGuard-labeled packaging. See GAF Shingle & Accessory Ltd. Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.)

7. Excessive energy costs.

A possible cause of higher cooling costs could be insufficient attic ventilation, requiring the cooling system to run excessively. In warm weather, inadequate ventilation will trap hot air in the attic, causing air-conditioning systems to work harder, or leaving your home's interior hotter and less comfortable.

In both hot and cold weather, moisture in the attic can become trapped and condense on the rafters if its not insulated properly. This moisture can drip down onto the insulation and reduce its effectiveness, potentially increasing energy costs.

Roofing Terms

A

Algae- Rooftop fungus that can leave dark stains on roofing.

Angled fasteners- Roofing nails and staples driven into decks at angles not parallel to the deck.

APA- American Plywood Association. Tests and sets standards for all varieties of plywoods used in the U.S.

Granules- Crushed rock that is coated with a ceramic coating and fired, used as top surface on shingles.

H

Hand-sealing- The method to assure sealing of shingles on very steep slopes, in high wind areas, and when installing in cold weather.

High nailing- When shingles are nailed or fastened above the manufacturers specified nail location.

Hip legs- The down-slope ridges on hip roofs.

Hip roof- A roof with four roof planes coming together at a peak and four separate hip legs.

I

Ice Dam- When a snow load melts on a roof and re-freezes at the eave areas. Ice dams force water to "back-up" a roof and cause leakage.

L

"L" flashing- Continuous metal flashing consisting of several feet of metal. Used at horizontal walls, bent to resemble an "L".

Laminated shingles- Shingles made from two separate pieces that are laminated together. GAFMC Timberline Series, Country Mansion and Grand Sequoia Shingles. Also called dimensional shingles and architectural shingles.

Laps- The area where roll roofing or rolled underlayments overlap one another during application (see also side laps and end laps).

Low slopes-Roof pitches less than 4/12 are considered low sloped roofs. Special installation practices must be used on roofs sloped 2/12-4/12.

M

Mansard- A roof design with a nearly vertical roof plane that ties into a roof plane of less slope at its peak.

Mats- The general term for the base material of shingles and certain rolled products.